1955 Maserati A6G/2000 Berlinetta

Written by Donald Osborne

n total, Carrozzeria Frua completed fewer than 20 bodies for Maserati’s A6G/2000 chassis. Although the Frua spiders may garner greater recognition, the beautifully styled Berlinettas were featured in Maserati’s official catalog and offered a unique blend of sporting and grand touring characteristics.

Today, these rare Maseratis appear fresh, modern and utterly distinctive when compared with other 2-liter Italian sports cars of the period. Chassis 2114 was completed by Gilco — the company assembling bare chassis frames for Maserati and Ferrari — in mid-1955 and subsequently delivered to the Maserati works in Modena, Italy, where it was mated with the A6G/54’s beautiful twin-plug, dual overhead camshaft engine.

According to facsimiles of the original factory build sheets, 2114 was equipped with the finest Italian high-performance accessories, including Marelli coils, Weber carburetors, outside-lace Ruote Borrani wire wheels, Abarth exhaust and the latest Pirelli Stelvio tires. In total, it is believed that just four Frua Berlinettas in this style were completed; yet because of subtle variations in detail and trim, each body was essentially a one-off design.

Shown at the 42nd Annual Paris Auto Salon on Maserati’s stand, on December 9, 1955, this car was invoiced to official Maserati importer Simone & Thepenier in Paris. By year’s end, Garage Mirabeau sold the exclusive Maserati to its first owner, Grueder Setbon. The sports car was certainly cherished by Setbon, remaining with the family for approximately 25 years. In 1980, Richard Crump was able to purchase the Maserati, selling it four years later to Anthony MacLean, a Swiss collector with a passion for coachbuilt Maseratis and Lancias.

MacLean commissioned a comprehensive mechanical rebuild, then traded the car as a partial exchange against an A6GCS sports racer. The Berlinetta remained in storage for a decade. In 1999, U.K. collector Andrew Green bought it and commissioned a ground-up restoration from Bill McGrath.

Between 2000 and 2002, the Frua Berlinetta underwent a painstaking restoration. Throughout, a concerted effort was made to restore the car while remaining faithful to the original techniques of construction. With cosmetic work well under way, attention was turned to a mechanical rebuild. As the owner intended to participate in tours and rallies, McGrath installed a new crankshaft and connecting rods along with custom-made valve guides and reprofiled camshafts.

A Weber specialist rebuilt the original 36 DO4 carburetors, cast new choke levers and machined new jets for smooth, consistent operation. The engine block — presumed to be an original factory replacement unit — did not display a serial number, so the owner requested that it be stamped 2114/2.

The exacting restoration effort culminated with a well-deserved First Prize at the Maserati Club Annual Concours d’Elegance at Stanford Hall on May 26, 2002. In 2003, the A6G/2000 was displayed at Goodwood and at the Maserati Club U.K. exhibition at the Classic Car Show at Birmingham’s NEC, where it was awarded the Special Prize. Later that year, it was sold to famed Jamiroquai front man and passionate car enthusiast Jason “Jay” Kay.

Unlike many collectors who rarely use or display their prized automobiles, Kay is a firm believer in driving all his cars and participating in the classic car hobby. Not only has this splendid Maserati received a number of prestigious concours awards and participated in the most exclusive classic car rallies, it has a file that supports its fascinating history and noteworthy pedigree. With copies of the original Maserati build sheet, a comprehensive restoration file, registration records, a driver’s handbook and a FIVA carte d’identité, this A6G/2000 is impressively documented and primed for new adventures.

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